Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-11-19

!
COMMUNICATED.
a Days Reconnaissance Over the
Esrnpiike and Crest Line Avenue
Route.
Agreeable to appointment, party of gen.
tlemen, consisting Of Mr.. E w. Fox, editor
National Republican, c. W. Ridley and
Others of the city of Washington Mayor
Jno. B. Smoot, F. A Reed, F. R. Windsor,
Park Agaew and james r. Catou. of the
city of Alexandria Frank Hume and J. e.
Sickles, of the county of Alexandria N. T.
Pier-op, Walter Walton, Warrington Gill
liueham, William Hunter, Stacy II. Snow
den and William II Snowden, of the county
OF Fairfax, met Wednesday at the tannery
of g. Q SmooI & Sons to arrange prelimna
ries preparatory 10 making reconnaissance
over one of the proposed routes OF the lower
extent of the Mount Vernon avenue.
From tbs tannery the party proceeded In
carriages to the south end OF Washington
street aud spent some time IN viewing the
approaches 10 and the surroundings OF Great
Hunting creek, which stream of half 3 mil e
IN width it has been proposed 10 span with
a grand memorial bridge to our country g
| famous revolutionary allies. Genera S
Lafayette, SIeuben ard DeKalb. From
this interesting point of view the
party retraced their course to Fran
lin street, and thence following down
Patrick street crossed the creek over
the turnpike bridge and took the road lead
iog 70 Accotnk. Having assembled the first
1nclue of the way through lands Of Major
| George Johnston, about quarter oi mile
| from said turnpike bridge and at the point
| proposed for the blending OF the first reach
of the avenue after leaving the memorial
bridge, y halt was called for another survey
and parley. The view from this poiut was
8 comprehensive Oue. Across The stream
northwarG, stretched the city of Alexaudria
wiih lis prominent steeples apd towers, aud
fur.nef, hut few miles beyond, the dome
and monument Of the national capital lifted
their heights iu the hay au!umn air. Look
ipg westward beyond The turnpike crossing,
the broad valley of the creek lay like an am
philheatTe encompss5ed By its encircliDg
hills whose heights are every one of them
historic and of exceeding interest TO the in
quriug tourist. Looking eastward the
waters of the broad Potomac sweeping down
to tie sea glittered brightly in the sunshine
On The Maryland side was Rosters Biuh
Fort Foote and theis romantic surroundings
Again the head Of our column was in me-
tion. AS we ospeoted or our way fair
views Of river and meadow and hill slopes
continually greeted ua. We stopped few
moments ut the "wayside fountain" TO re.
fresh man and beast with its cooling
Ciraugbts; and theu, leaving tbs turnpike
along which we had traced our "avenue
route 80 far, we commenced our reconnois
sance over She gently undulating lands
which border the hill crest range" leading
on TO Mount Vernon, but not until we had
tarried long enough to !eisurely scan and
discuss the many varied features of land
scape such as rarely appears to the beholder
iu long course o. travel. Here the eye
sweeps with an uninterrupted radius o.
many miles, taking in the chain OF the three
cities, the eXpanse OF the sail tiecked river
and the distant heights of Seminary ridge
with its Gordon of dismantIed and ruined
. battlemeuts, around which, but generation
ago. clustered miles of cleaning tents, with
! their armed legions mastering and marshal
ing for the coDhcte OF the coming war
Beautiful as was the prospect in every di
rectiou from where we had halted, passing
time admonished US not TO linger too long
ard so, again moving on, we passed by
Romeny Wellington, Bay View, Andauaia
Wilbern, Collingwood and Savoy, the dwell
ling eites respectively of Oscar Baker, Jud
son Baker, Isaac SnowdeD, W. Il. Snowden,
D 2. Smith, S. H Snowden and O. +. Will
kins, all commanding charming river views
and about MONDAY, according to programme
our party after their appetizing reconnoit'
erings drew up in front of Cedar Hill Man
aion,n the home of William Hunter, some
five miles on the route, and were cordially
welcomed by him 10 bountiful repas
which had been specially prepared for the
occasion.
Dinner being over, an hour or SO was
passed in admring the splendid river view:
fro IN the lawn of the mansion, and also IL
discussing the prospects, practicabiities anc
possibilities of the projected enterprise, after
which the line of march was again resumed
and we'll toward sunset the party agair
halted at the gates of the late home oftheillus
trious Washington, where final parley was
held and then the days reconnaissance
over the turnpike and crestline" avenue
route was at an end.
Throughout the survey great unapimitJ
seemed TO prevail among the members o
the party in regard to the fitness of thi
particular route, both in regard to the pleas
ing variety of natural wayside objects ant
the very favorable topography of the land
for the construction of snch road as is pro
posed to be built. w. Il. SNoWDEN.
ADVICE TO MOTHERS.
MRS. W1ssLow's SOOTHING SYRUP, for chill
-. Al,o, -Nr1 r- nrt IN